Welcome to the discussion thread for Hmm's Great Grav-Train Robbery!
If you are interested in signing up, please fill in the following pieces of information.
Player Name:
Name of the Character you plan to apply this chronicle to:
SFS-Number:
Faction:
Extra Credit:
Tell me something cool about trains -- whether your own journeys or favorite train stories and movies.
This game will be played with pregens, and we don't currently know anything about them, but tell me about your favorite Starfinder adventures, whether in Organized Play or elsewhere.
Hmm
Player Name: Shifty
Name of the Character you plan to apply this chronicle to: Scrimshaw Benny
SFS-Number: 826-707
Faction: Manifold
Extra Credit:
Generally, good experiences with trains, whether traveling through Canada with the panoramic glass roof, or the overnight trains across the rugged terrain of Australia, it has been a number of really positive experiences. Trains were always linked to 'going somewhere interesting' as a kid, and my relatives that lived out in the countryside were always fun to visit.
The 'visit the relatives' trip as a kid was always with my grandmother, and she'd always buy me a meat pie, chocolate milk, and the latest MAD magazine for the 3 hour journey.
***
Also as a kid I loved a good Western, and the train (plus station) was a common device for setting a scene. I always felt that they were actually used symbolically to represent progress and mechanisation and the inevitability of what was to come.
And yes, my OTHER favourite genre, heist movies - The Great Train Robbery (British one anyway!)
Player Name: Yours is mined
Name of the Character you plan to apply this chronicle to: Rodger ‘Rump’ Rydell
SFS-Number: 69095 t h e v o i d -1
Faction: Wayfinders
Hey Shifty!
They’ve let you out now, right? Or were you on duty telling Gen Frewen what’s what?
🐨
In our courting days, I asked Ms Not-Yim-Yet if she’d like to go on a romantic train journey on the Indian-Pacific, which Shifty will know is a ‘famous-in-Oz’ train which journeys from Perth to Melbourne, with a stop at Adelaide in the middle.
The plan was to get off in Adelaide, rent a car, and cruise the wine regions around Adelaide for a week (McClaren Vale, Clare and Barossa) and then fly home.
Australians like to pride ourselves on being an egalitarian society, but the Indian-Pacific is a bit of a holdover – having First Class, Second Class and Third Class carriages. Jolly colonial, what?
Anyway, out to impress I coughed up for a First Class compartment.
The day comes, we get on and are quickly approached by a posh English girl in the Club Car who says her husband can’t travel in a backwards facing seat without throwing up, and as we were already travelling backwards, would we mind if they joined us in our vacant forward facing seats.
No problem!
Well turns out they were up for a good time as much as we were, and there always seemed to be a full glass around anytime after lunch. The English girl told a young Japanese honeymooning couple there was compulsory dancing on the tables straight after second sitting in the Dining Car (oh, yes), and the poor girl was so frightened, she went straight back to her compartment and didn’t come out ‘til the next morning.
One evening, I shouted a round of champagne, and toasted “Chin, chin!”
To which the Japanese groom yelled , while his bride blushed, and looked like she was trying to find a place to hide.
After they’d left, the English chap asked me if I knew what “Chin, chin!” meant in Japanese.
I didn’t and he told me,
Well I didn't know!
Another highlight was having dinner with another friendly Japanese girl who was travelling solo. She asked me what I was going to have for mains – like you do – and after perusing the menu I made my choice.
You see, I’d hit a kangaroo with my ute pickup the week before the holiday – they were plentiful in the reasonably remote area I was working. Fortunately it was bucketing down and I was driving slowly, so skippy bounced off, got up, shook himself off and hopped away – leaving me drenched-to-the-skin, with an expensive roo-shaped impression in my front fender.
So in revenge, I told our Japanese companion I was going to enjoy feasting on skippy steak for mains.
She didn’t speak to me for the rest of the trip!
Nah I have swapped targets off Covid and am now on prep for the next fire/flood/plague of locusts in support of the high-risk weather period Oct-Apr. We already rolled out once this year in March in support of the NSW floods.
From my perspective, my gaming will be taking a significant hit from Jan - new rank and new responsibilities are going to be deeply eating into my already scant leisure time. With that said, in April we are due to have a breather, as we have been deployed since Oct 2019.
Skippy is delicious.
Congrats on getting promoted!!
And, my goodness. You've been deployed since Oct 2019 to help with potential/actual civilian emergencies??
That is incredible and I feel bad not knowing how hard our boys and girls in green are working ...
All I can offer is my thanks, Shifty. Hope you at least get some kind of allowance ...
In Oct 2019 we began responding to the fires in northern NSW which eventually spiralled into what we saw from Christmas Day until Feb 2020 Op Bushfire Assist, and the post fire clean-up that took us to March. We packed up and went for beers on the Saturday night then got recalled the Sunday morning to immediately mount the Covid response Op Covid. We got a break from that to go on Op NSW Flood Assist then back to Covid, and now watching the weather until April hoping the La Nina doesn't smash our coast with storms and create floods again. Roll on April 2022 when we get to just...stop.
It has been funny though, even when the joint was burning down and we were all under the pump I didn't miss a day of GMing my PbP games - even when in some cruddy tent in some remote area in cruddy conditions.
Player Name: BretI
Name of the Character you plan to apply this chronicle to: Kizzot (level 6)
SFS-Number: 141981-709
Faction: Acquistives
Extra Credit:
I enjoy the sleeper trains for medium and long distance travel. The most comfortable one I took was an overnight from Sydney to Melbourne. I have also taken the Empire Builder out to PaizoCon twice. It wasn’t as nice a train, but still I thought it pleasant.
I find the trains much less hassle than flying so when there isn’t a time crunch I prefer them. They also sway less than a boat, but in general vehicle motion doesn’t bother me.
——
As for food, I found wallaby more tasty than roo. Would pass either by for a nice fresh tilapia filet. I had a lot of delicious fish & chips while out in Oz.
Player Name: Hawthwile
Name of the Character you plan to apply this chronicle to: Mid-Treeum
SFS-Number: 264524-704
Faction: Wayfinders
Extra Credit: I moved from the States to Europe a few years back, and every time I take a train to another city I’m always tickled by thoughts like “how fancy I feel” and “isn’t this trilling, darling”. My first overnight train experience in Europe was to visit Santa Claus’s village in Rovaniemi, and I’ve never felt more Victorian in my life than when I was trying to find the right compartment. Bonus points - there’s no lines to see Santa if you visit him in June. XD
I realized as I was writing this though that that wasn’t my first experience on an overnight train. That happened in China, on a trip from Shanghai to Xi’an. That was where someone tried to teach my friend how to knit, and also when I learned just how difficult it is to use a squatty-potty on a moving vehicle. Good times.
If there is still space, I'd love to join this team.
Player Name: Numbat
Name of the Character you plan to apply this chronicle to: Eiju
SFS-Number: 833-708
Faction: Second Seekers (Ehu Hadif)
Extra Credit: My earliest great train memory was when I was about 5, my mother, brother and I used rail transport when we moved from Brisbane, Queensland to Melbourne, Victoria. It was great to have a table for games, to be able to wander around, to see the passing countryside, etc.
One of my most enjoyable though was using a Britrail pass during my around the world adventure. In particular, the sleeper train back from Edinburgh to London, having my own room with a shared butler who brought me tea and the paper in the morning before we had to disembark.
Then there were the adventures using trains throughout northern Italy and then across to Paris. That was another sleeper train, no butler though. Still one of the best ways to travel.
As for Starfinder games, I've had many happy experiences. The fun romp through Band on the Run I just completed with my regular weekly (Canadian) crew was a lot of fun.
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I would love to join, if there's room!
I can't tell you exactly who I will want credit to go to; it depends on which characters get free from existing games.
I fondly (but vaguely) remember an Amtrak trip to a relative's wedding when I was in elementary school. I can remember going up high to see around us, and playing lots of card games with my parents.
Space for one more?
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Hello Numbat, Redelia and Scottybobotti!
I am going to consider the three of you waitlisted for my table but I also hope that you go looking for other GMs tables. Tyranius asked us GMs to stick with tables of four.
Also we have nearly 50 Volunteer GM’s between the two systems so when recruiting let’s stick to 4 players per table. (1 for each of the four provided Pre-gens). This way it will give all tables a chance to fire. There is not going to be a mass recruiting sheet for this event so please recruit among your communities for players as you normally would. We have new PbP / PbD players showing up each day and this will give them a chance to get in some games.
I would of course be honored to have any of you at my table and hope that I can have you in the next thing that I run.
Hugs,
Hmm
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If any of you are interested in playing the PF2 one shot Headshot the Rot, I have recently created a recruitment thread for it. I plan to post it to Cottonseed a little bit later.
And here are those pregens!
Let's do crime!
Oh boy, these all look like a fun time! I think I'd be happy with either Barat or Kevan, though I could play either of the other two if needed.
If he is missing a feat, I give you leave to add it back in.
Hmm
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5 novas to go along with 5 stars is impressive, HMM. Congratulations!
Did the the 5th nova get achieved during Skälcon?
⛯⛯⛯⛯⛯ ☆☆☆☆☆
But so is being an Adventure Path Author!
So happy for you!
May I have the 'Kyra' or 'Valeros' pre-gen to play, please?
This will be my first Starfinder adventure!
May I have the 'Kyra' or 'Valeros' pre-gen to play, please?
This will be my first Starfinder adventure!
I would go with either Barat the Vanguard aka the 'muscle' or LNA-464 the operative aka the 'thief'. Both should be fairly straightforward, and Bret and I can help you with understanding them. Which appeals to you more?
We'll need to correct LNA-464's to hit bonus (it's supposed to be better!) but we can get that done for you! Welcome to Starfinder!
Hmm
Niiiiice.
My 5 Novas has stalled. I'm in at the 130 odd table count, but the 'Need a VC' piece is still ruining me. We had a plan to fly in a couple of VCs so I could pick up the last two rubrics, but then the covid travel restrictions hit us again.
I'll be resigning as VC shortly so a new one can be appointed locally, and I will get the next table that way.
I think the 'skill-drone' LNA-464 would be my preference.
I don't think you want the 'damage-dealer' in my hands ;)
Shifty, you can get your VC tables online. You count as an Online GM too. Shall I corral some VCs for you?
So it's a two parter - the 'online' piece was only supposed to be a temporary fix and only one 'online' accreditation is the standard business practice. This has an impact on my local player base, a significant number of whom are older players (senior citizens!) who don't play in an online format. I have talked this through with them and they are simply rejecting the process and wont participate.
The implication of the 3 VC only rubric is that no Australian based GM will be able to get 3 VC sign-offs unless they can fly places (or fly people to them), so therefore unable to become a 5 widget.
I have raised this via the official channels a few times now, and unless they make it so VLs can be appointed (or people sanctioned by the local RVC) people in the southern hemisphere are still being unduly shafted by the horrible set of poorly-considered decisions the rubric represents.
I figure if enough of us resign and/or boycott we might get some traction.
(FWIW I am also annoyed by the system because if it is a showcase of my GMing, then my medium is face to face, I put on cool games - like us dressing up as pirates and playing nautical themed Pathfinder adventures over a weekend on a cruise ship, horror themed games at the old 1800's quarantine station, Australias 'most haunted' location - if the rubric is not just for show then this is what should be judged)
Although I do agree with your point, perhaps you should invite Alex S to your next cruise liner convention.
During Covid, all my games were online. That is how I got every single one of my VC reviews.
You should be able to do the same. I'll line them up, you do the games! I am sure that I can get you three VCs who will sit in on PBPs or VTTs using google slides and discord for rolls.
I would also like it if VLs and the dozen or so 5 Nova people could review as well. Then I could review for you!
We invited Tonya to the last cruise and even booked her a cabin on a four day island adventure on the Carnival Splendor to tropical qld. Covid got in the way though.
After the most recent PaizoCon bunfight though I’m kind of refusing to run another, and if I’m paying freight on bringing someone 14000 kms you can bet it will be a writer, not a staff member.
Our next cruise con is in 12 months.
****
The funny thing about the pbp games for 5 stars is that unlike other games, a reviewer could actually just read through the completed session - every move, every decision, every ruling (and player engagement/disagreement) is laid bare and able to be checked and analysed for eternity.
Why do I need to book a gym to sit in? They can just read my portfolio.
Who has reviewed you so far, Shifty?
Tyranius so far :)
I have complained at my RVC about this again (and I am tracking the same problem in Europe) basically us 'rest of world' people are a bit fed up with it. We are irritated by the fact that a system was developed as a passive-aggressive way of dealing with some problematic GMs rather than confronting them, totally parochial.
Lna or Aramesh for me (Thief or Face)
Organized Play Coordinator
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So it's a two parter - the 'online' piece was only supposed to be a temporary fix and only one 'online' accreditation is the standard business practice. This has an impact on my local player base, a significant number of whom are older players (senior citizens!) who don't play in an online format. I have talked this through with them and they are simply rejecting the process and wont participate.
The implication of the 3 VC only rubric is that no Australian based GM will be able to get 3 VC sign-offs unless they can fly places (or fly people to them), so therefore unable to become a 5 widget.
I have raised this via the official channels a few times now, and unless they make it so VLs can be appointed (or people sanctioned by the local RVC) people in the southern hemisphere are still being unduly shafted by the horrible set of poorly-considered decisions the rubric represents.
I figure if enough of us resign and/or boycott we might get some traction.
(FWIW I am also annoyed by the system because if it is a showcase of my GMing, then my medium is face to face, I put on cool games - like us dressing up as pirates and playing nautical themed Pathfinder adventures over a weekend on a cruise ship, horror themed games at the old 1800's quarantine station, Australias 'most haunted' location - if the rubric is not just for show then this is what should be judged)
Hi Shifty,
Sorry to butt in like this, but someone alerted me to your post. Would you mind emailing me at organizedplay[at]paizo[dot]com to discuss this? This is the first I'm hearing of these issues and I'd very much like to figure out a way to resolve them for you and any other GMs with the same issue.
Thanks, enjoy the grav-train robbery!
[smokebombs away]
Here is what I am seeing for character assignments so far:
LNA (the thief) - Yours is Mined
Aramesh (the face) - Shifty
Bret and Hawthwile - Do either of you have a preference for Kevan (the hacker) or Barat (the muscle)?
No preference here. I am fine playing either one.
Then let's have Hawthwile do Kevan. Hawthwile, would that be good with you?
Hmm
Then let's have Hawthwile do Kevan. Hawthwile, would that be good with you?
Sounds good!
Barat, Ijtkri Vanguard and general muscle!
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"I ain't your Mom's 'Bot-Buddy.'"
Hi Shifty,
Sorry to butt in like this, but someone alerted me to your post. Would you mind emailing me at organizedplay[at]paizo[dot]com to discuss this? This is the first I'm hearing of these issues and I'd very much like to figure out a way to resolve them for you and any other GMs with the same issue.
Thanks, enjoy the grav-train robbery!
[smokebombs away]
Cheers - we have been arguing publicly against this since May 2019 when it was first raised. I'll send you links :)
Nomadical made pregens, and noted issues that you can correct:
As promised. Here's the link to a Google Doc with bb-code for all 4 of the pregens in one file, in the order presented in the pdf. Commenting is allowed.
Issues:
Envoy: Short 1 language (not corrected). Note that Signature Item is from Tech Revolution, so I added the text since TechRev is not on AoN yet.
Vanguard: None.
Technomancer: I don't have AA2 in HLO so I don't have the Uplifed Bear. I had to build a custom race in HLO, and I can't be sure I got everything right. Please check it over. He seems to have 3 extra ability score points from the point buy than he should. I did not correct this, as I couldn't be sure it wasn't something I did wrong, and didn't want to invalidate the whole published build either way.
Operative: As previously mentioned, short 1 language (not corrected), and ranged attack modifier is incorrect (fixed).
Note too that none of them have Engineering tool kits, even though all of them except the Vanguard have ranks in Engineering. I did not fix that; though, I think it probably should be hand-wave-fixed.
“Pact Councillor Hotel Mike Mike:
“If the statement of the entity with the unlikely call-sign ‘Nomadical’ is accurate *scoff* my program is missing a language interpretation and transmission sub-routine.”
“Would you prefer to designate the replacement language program, or is it acceptable for li’l ol’ me to choose one of the Pact Worlds’ native languages, such as Triaxian?”
"Message Ends ... Lena."
Pick whatever language you would like! I am open to them!
We have maps! Can you edit your player name on the first slide?
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“Affirmative.”
“FYI: I have also uploaded the ‘Akitonian’ language chip to my main processor.”
And we have begun!
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Arda Vonn's portrait is a delight!
I always wondered what the love-child of MODOK and Kang the Conqueror would look like ;)
I know! I love what Arda looks like, and had to include a picture!
[dice=advanced needler pistol on flat-footed? Mino-guard]d20+8
[dice=piercing damage]1d6+3
Injection +2 is the critical effect. It means the DC for the substance injected increases by 2.
Analog means that the weapon isn’t dependent on advanced technology. Things that target tech don’t work on it.
Injection means you can load serums, poisons, and other such substances into the weapon.
And then don’t forget that you have Trick Attack as an operative. It’s kinda like Sneak Attack, but… also not.
As a full action, you can move up to your speed. Whether or not you moved, you can then make an attack with a melee weapon with the operative special property or with any small arm. Just before making your attack, attempt a Bluff, Intimidate, or Stealth check (or a check associated with your specialization; see page 94) with a DC equal to 20 + your target’s CR. If you succeed at the check, you deal 1d4 additional damage and the target is flat-footed against your attack. This damage increases to 1d8 at 3rd level, to 3d8 at 5th level, and by an additional 1d8 every 2 levels thereafter. You can’t use this ability with a weapon that has the unwieldy special property or that requires a full action to make a single attack.
I think that you can also use Sleight of Hand for your trick attack based on your specialization, but I don’t have the character sheets in front of me so I can’t confirm that. But it’s a great way to try to boost your damage output (3d8 is nothing to sneeze at at this level).
I gave Lena in my post something that she can cut and paste into her botting spoiler to make it easier to just remember that Trick Attack.
Also, if you don't want to kill the guard, you don't have to do so. There may be other options.